The Devil Wears Prada DVD Review

It is the same boss from hell movie that has been made before, but every so often there is a need for a new take, just to freshen the references up a bit. Other than the modernizing of the sub-genre film not much seems to change in these films, and The Devil Wears Prada is no exception. It is unremarkable in what it presents, but features fantastic actors working within the fairly familiar film. The supporting actors are particularly remarkable to me, because although this is a comedy there are no cliché supporting roles. Stanley Tucci who stays away from the obvious gay-man-in-fashion shtick, and instead fleshes out a complete character to care about. Without the obnoxious caricatures, there is much more room to breathe, but unfortunately the film doesn’t try to stray too far outside of the expected.

Meryl Streep is convincing as always as she embodies the snobby difficult boss, but there is always a distance kept from her character. She is extremely convincing, but not altogether engaging as the tight-lipped fashion demon. Streep dons white hair which makes her look a bit like Cruella de Vil for most of the film, and perhaps that is why she becomes more of a caricature than usual. Anne Hathaway is just as convincingly sweet as the poor assistant as Streep is wicked, so they go well together, although there are moments where the film seems more intent to relish the wickedness of Streep’s acting ability rather than focus on Andy, our heroine of sorts.

Mostly The Devil Wears Prada is a successful and entertaining film, but it is also a very safe film. It lacks the bite that was offered in Swimming With Sharks, but offers all of the expected plot twists to consumer audiences. Mostly there doesn’t seem to be anything at all wrong with the film while it is likely to fade in with dozens of other films with nothing particularly unique to say. However, if entertainment is all you are after, The Devil Wears Prada is a rather safe choice.

As rousing as the performances are in this film, there isn’t much to showcase the actors in the special features, which are intently fashion oriented. There is a commentary track with director David Frankel, producer Wendy Finerman, costume designer Patricia Field, screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, editor Mark Livolsi, and cinematographer Florian Ballhaus. With such an extensive crew commentary track where are the actors? There are also a couple of deleted scenes, a gag reel and five featurettes. The featurettes are nearly all focused on the fashion and the adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s novel, but the actors are simply bodies that fill the roles and designer clothing in these sad featurettes.